String message-holder for wireless ob other telegraph mechanism



V M. M. WOOD. STRING MESSAGE HOLDER FOR WIRELESS OR OTHER TELEGRAPH MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED AP R.4, 1919.

Patented July 13, 1920.

liable to get out of order.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MOIVTRAVILLE M. WOOD, 0F BERWYN, ILLINOIS.

1 34 43115. Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 13,1920.

Application filed April 4. 1919. Serial No. 287,547.

To all whom it may concern lie it known that I, MoNrin-WILLE M. Wool), a citizen of the United States, residing at Berwyn, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in String Message-Holders for Wireless or other Telegraph Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

There are on the market a variety of wireless telegraph and ordinary telegraph mech anisms operated by moving a -mechanical member having thereon signal making devices corresponding in arrangement to the letters of the alphabet or other signals which are to be produced.

The object of this invention is to provide a novel form of message holder to be passed adjacent to a machine of this class to operate the sending switch. The invention consists in means for carrying out this object, which can be easily and cheaply made, which is satisfactory in operation and is not readily More particularly, the invention consists in taking an ordinary string or cord, placing along its length enlargements arranged in accordance with the signals to be made or sent, said enlargements being adapted to operate the sending switch of the telegraph apparatus. In cases where the switch closes a circuit which does not include the message carrier, these enlargements are most easily and cheaply made by tying ordinary knots in the string. In cases where the switch is of such a character that the circuit is completed through the message holder, the enlargements are made of a current carrying substance, as for instance a lump of plumbago pasted on the string. The invention further consists in the features and details of construction hereafter more fully set forth in the specification and claims.

Referring to the drawings, in which similar numerals indicate the same. parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 illustrates a double ended string and 1 Fig. 2 a continuous string each adapted, when carried by proper mechanism, to pass through or adjacent to the telegraph apparatus sending switch.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of a telegraph mechanism and its switch operated by the message holder of this invention, the switch. being of such a character that closure switch is of such a character that its closing requires the passage of current through or 1 over a portion of the message holder.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view through the en larged member of the message holder of Fig. 4.

As telegraph mechanism of the class described is well known in the art, no attempt is made in the drawing to show the entire machine or the mechanism for holding and moving the message holder through the machine.

Fig. 3 shows diagrammatically in its upper portion, a telegraph system 10, energized by current in an electric circuit 12, which is completed when the flexible switch member 14, attached to a stationary support or block 16 at 18 is moved upward into engagement with contact point 20. In this type of device the current inthe circuit 12 passes directly from member 14 to contact point 20 and does not have to pass through the message holder which passes between switch member 14 and block 16 to move member 14 into engagement with switch point 20. In this type of device the message holder consists in a plain string or cord 22 having ordinary knots 24 tied at suitable intervals along its length in accordance with the spacings of theMorse alphabet or other signal system which is to be used, as is suggested in the more or less complete message holder shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In the operation of the device, the machinery (not shown) moves cord 22 through the switch mechanism and every time a knot 24 passes under switch member 14, it flexes that member up into engagement with contact point 20, thus completing the circuit and sending an electric signal through the telegraph mechanism. As soon as the machine carries the knot 24 out from between members 14 and 16, switch member 14 springs back to normal position, as shown, thus breaking the circuit and leaving the device ready to receive the signal produced when the next knot 24 passes through the switch. 'This is the simplest and cheapest form of message holder of this invention.

In the device of Fig. 4, the diagrammaticallyshown telegraph mechanism 30 is operated by 6 QJ-QS I g of an electric circuit or gold dust which is capable of transmit ting electriccurrent aroundthe string 40.

T he string itselili' serves as an insulator between the successive enlargements 4:2. l l, shown. 1

In principle there is no reason why knots cannot be tied in the string 40, as is in string 7 22; and these knots covered with plumbago or other conducting material, but

in actual practice, the construction shown 'i'n F1g. 5 has proved satlsiactory.

. In the operation of this type of telegraph mechanism, the machinery feeds strlng lO along, as before, andeverly time a plumbago covered member 44- passes between the switch in embersfil and 36; it completes the circuit 32 and operates mechanlsm 30. This operat on ceasing as soon asmember 4. L- passesout fro between the switch memher a l.

hers 34- and 36. The apparatus then automatically restores itself to normal position, ready for the passage oi? the" next mem- The 'message holder has been described as used-solely, 1n the sendingot messages,

but obviously if a machine, forming no part of'this present invention exists or is hereafter invented which will cause the receiving end of a telegraph system to place enlargements 44: on the string 40, passed twisting 'ters Patent, is

. tervals arranged in accordance through the receiving mechanism as messages are coming in, there is no reason Why the resulting message holder cannot be used to read the message from. a a

The word col-a is defined in the Standard dictionary a string or small rope made several strands together; twine) Itqis in this sense that the word cord is used in the claims.

Having thus described my inve11ti0n,what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let- 1; In a telegraph apparatus in'combination with a signal switch mechanism; a cord, adapted for moveme'ntwith reference to said switch having knots tied along its length to act as switch operating members, said knots arrange at predetermined points along-the cord inaccordance with the signals to be sent." a a 2. In a telegraph apparatus; the' combination with a signal switch mechanism, a cord adapted for movement *Wl'th reference to the switch said cord havingjknots .tied

along its length and conductive, material covering each knot so' as toinake it a conductive enlargement adapted to complete the switch circuit, said enlargements being arranged at predetermined points in accordance with the-signals to be sent;

'3. As a signal SWlllCll operatona cord having knots tied along 1ts length at 1nnals to be given. V 1

In wltness whereof, I have herermto-subscribed my name in' the presence of two witnesses; v V V V a MTRAVILLE M. il V001 Witnesses:

' DWIGHT BI CHEE'VER,

M. ROSENZWEIG.

with the sig- 

